Lowe’s closing, calls move ‘essential to growth’

FLINT TWP. — Lowe’s will close its two Flint-area stores as part of a strategic reassessment plan, company officials said this week.

The store at 2100 T.A. Mansour Dr., in Flint Township, and the other store at 4274 E. Court St., Burton, are among 20 underperforming locations across the U.S. being shut down.

Employees were notified of the plan to close both store at a Sunday evening meeting. The announcement from the corporation came Monday.

It says most of the impacted stores will close by Feb. 1, 2019. But some will be shut down immediately. The company says some of the affected workers will be offered positions at other Lowe’s stores. Liquidation sales at both stores are scheduled to start today

“We believe our people are the foundation of our business and essential to our future growth,” said CEO Marvin R. Ellison, in a statement. “While decisions that impact our associates are never easy, the store closures are a necessary step in our strategic reassessment as we focus on building a stronger business.”

Since taking over as CEO, Ellison, who joined the company in May, has already made some big strategic decisions, including the closing all of its Orchard Supply Hardware stores and reducing inventory at its Lowe’s stores.